Russia Allows Transit to Polish Refugees in Lithuania

April 10, 1940

WASHINGTON (Apr. 9)

Russia and Lithuania have completed an agreement by which upward of 40,000 Jewish refugees may leave Lithuania through Soviet-occupied Poland and Russia proper, if they can find permanent homes elsewhere, it was learned today.

Lithuania, cooperating with Germany, has completed a census of all refugees within its borders and many have been persuaded to return to Nazi Poland. Few Jews agreed to leave Lithuania to return to Poland, however.

The Lithuanian legation has made representations to the State Department asking that refugees in Lithuania be permitted to enter the United States as soon as possible under present quotas. The Lithuanian Government, in order to facilitate emigration of its refugees, made the agreement with Russia by which Jews may be transported through the Soviet Republic provided they have a destination.